Core shaft and drive for a web handling apparatus



July 29, 1969 E. H. TESKE ETAL CORE SHAFT AND DRIVE FOR A WEB HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 sum Q. ow Q @N. m EH mp w m 3% mi ll .H rmr. m .100 NP m a w i 2w "WA Nmnmm wa fi\v\ O mm Qw/ Q m; N Q 1/..9

n mnrm-F ATTORNEY July 29, 1969 E. H. TESKE ETAL CORE SHAFT AND DRIVE FOR A WEB HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1, 1966 m l l lll Ill llll

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. ZZZ/P/ a INVENTORS. ERNEST H. TESKE v HOWARD E. ROSCOE BY M m mmm-hHl ATTORNEY July 29, 1969 E. H. TESKE ETAL CORE SHAFT AND DRIVE FOR A WEB HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. ERNEST H. TESKE HOWARD E. ROSCOE ATTORNEY July 29, 1969 E. H. TESKE ETAL Filed Sept. 1 1966 F'IlE-' E 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ISO INVENTORS.

ERNEST H. TESKE HOWARD E. ROSCOE ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,458,147 CORE SHAFT AND DRIVE FOR A WEB HANDLING APPARATUS Ernest H. Teske and Howard E. Roscoe, Green Bay, Wis.,

assignors to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 576,641 Int. Cl. B65h 75/02 US. Cl. 242-55 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wind and unwind stand is provided with reciprocating core engaging chucks for supporting and rotating a core shaft. The core shaft is formed so that its largest diameter engages the core. In addition the core shaft has grooves laterally outwardly of the core engaging portion that ride in tracks carried by the stand. The track serves to locate the core shaft in alignment with the chucks and prevent axial displacement of the core shaft during retraction of the chucks.

This invention relates to web winding, and rewinding apparatus wherein large rolls of paper or film, used in flexographic printing presses, laminators, and coating machines, etc., are wound or unwound on a core. More particularly this invention concerns a novel core supporting shaft and a driving and locating arrangement therefor.

It is an important feature of this invention to provide a core supporting shaft which is releasably and reliably freely rotatably mounted in a web winding or unwinding apparatus.

This feature is particularly significant when elongatable or extensible films such as polyethylene, PVC, etc., are wound on a powered core shaft. It is essential that webs of the mentioned type are wound with a minimum amount of tension to prevent elongation in order to ensure print registration throughout the parent roll. Failure of this condition renders the output of bag making or wrapping machines, or any other type of converting machine, commercially unacceptable since the printing would not be properly located relative to the margins of the final package.

It is another and equally important feature of this invention to provide a core supporting shaft, particularly for cores having an inside diameter of three inches, whose largest diameter is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the core, and which is light in weight and does not include removable radial extensions, thus facilitating insection and removal of cores.

The preferred construction to achieve the above result takes the form of a core shaft having a central coresupporting portion of a diameter somewhat less than the inside diameter of the core. Each end of the core shaft has tapered portions which are received by complementary formed rotatably mounted chucks that are mounted for translatory movement toward and away from each other to respectively engage and disengage the tapered ends of the shaft. As will be made clear upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, the chucks are mounted for rectilinear motion. However, it is to be appreciated that the chucks may be mounted in various other ways. For example, a suitable pivotal connection.

It is another feature of this invention to incorporate an integral driving member on the core shaft such that when the chucks engage the tapered ends of the core shaft, driving relationship is established with the chucks. As will be made apparent hereinafter, this driving connection preferably takes the form of a tang.

Still another feature of this invention is to accurately 3,458,147 Patented July 29, 1969 and quickly locate the core shaft at the winding or unwinding station. To achieve this result rails are provided along which the core shaft may roll. The rails include track portions which terminate at a point aligning the axis of the core shaft with the tapered chucks.

These and other features, advantages and objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a web winding apparatus incorporating the novel core shaft and drive of this invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, partly in section, as viewed in the direction of the line of 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the drive end of the core shaft,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of FIGURE 1 also looking in the direction of the line 22 illustrating the support for the other end of the core shaft,

FIGURE 5' is a fragmentary perspective of the core shaft,

FIGURE 6 is a schematic of the hydraulic circuit for controlling the operation of the carriages for supporting the core shaft engaging chucks, and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the core shaft supporting rail.

Although the invention will be described in connection with a rewinding apparatus, it is to be understood that this is merely one environment in which the invention has utility. Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a typical rewinding apparatus 10 comprising parallel side plates 12 and 14 supported on a base member 16. A roll supporting stand 18 is mounted for limited lateral movement in guides 20 and 22 which are supported on the base member 16. A suitable mechanism such as a hydraulic cylinder, not shown, controlled by a conventional edge guide control adjusts the lateral position of the roll supporting stand 18 in order to align the edges of adjacent wraps of the roll. The web, indicated by the letter W, is guided through the machine by a plurality of suitable guide rolls 24 whose ends are rotatably mounted in the side plates 12 and 14. A web slitting mechanism 26 including a slitter roll 28 and an anvil 30 is provided for dividing the web in two or more sections. Downstream of the slitting mechanism 26 there is rotatably supported on the side frames 12 and 14 an expander roll 32. There is also provided a weighted presser roller 19 for expelling air between adjacent wraps of the roll.

The roll stand 18 also includes vertically extending transversely spaced side plates 34 and 36 which are rigidly interconnected in any suitable manner. On each of these plates core shaft engaging chucks 38 and 40 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are rotatably mounted in reciprocable carriages 42 and 44, respectively, carried by the side plates 34 and 36. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the chuck 38 is mounted on a spindle 46 having a gear 48 keyed thereon meshing with a pinion gear 50 fixed to a shaft 52 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing 54. A plate 56, rigidly secured to brackets 58 which are attached to the side plate 34 by bolts 60, provides a mounting surface for the bearing 54. As shown best in FIGURE 2, the shaft 52 extends outwardly beyond the plate 56 and it has keyed thereon a pulley 62 driven by a belt 64 which is trained about a pullye 66 connected to the output shaft of a suitable motor 67.

Slightly below each chuck and mounted on the inner surface of the plates 34 and 36 are guide rails 68 and 70. These rails serve the purpose of providing a surface along which a core shaft may be rolled from the winding station WS to the discharge station DS. Removal of a completed roll is effected by an unloading mechanism 72 comprising upwardly and slightly rearwardly extending arms 74 (only one of which appears in FIG. 1) which are rigidly connected in laterally spaced relationship on a tubular shaft 76 rotatably mounted in the side plates 34 and 36. Also rigidly connected to the shaft 76 is a bell crank 78 that is pivotally connected at 80 to the rod of a hydraulic cylinder 82. Selectively operable controls, of a conventional nature, are provided for extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinder 82 to position the arms 74 from the full line position to the phantom outline position. For example, when the cylinder 82 is extended rotation is imparted to the tubular shaft 76 turning the arms 74 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to the phantom outline position.

On the upper ends of each arm 74 there is rigidly supported core shaft cradles 84 formed with an upwardly extending end portion 86 and a track portion 88 defining a continuation of the guide rails 68 and 70. It is to be noted that when the arms 74 are in their full line position the core shaft cradles 84 are in abutting engagement with the rails 68 and 70.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 4 it will be seen that each rail 68 and 70 is formed with an upwardly projecting relatively narrow track 90 having a surface 92 on which undercut portions 94 and 96 (FIG. of the core shaft C rollingly engage. As shown in FIGURE 7 the surface 92 terminates at a radius 98 which serves to locate the core shaft C at the winding station WS substantially in axial alignment with the core chucks 38 and 40. When the core shaft is firmly engaged by the chucks it is located to clear the surface 92 and the radius 98 by approximately to V of an inch.

In addition to the undercut portions 94 and 96 the core shaft shown in FIGURE 5 comprises a central longitudinally extending cylindrical portion 100 over which the paper core is located during the winding operation. This core shaft may be of the pneumatic type wherein pressurized air is used to expand the portion 100 in order to firmly engage the inner surface of the core. Such a feature, however, is conventional in the art and details thereof will not be disclosed herein. Adjacent the undercut portions 94 and 96 there are narrow bands 102 and 104 which are of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the central portion 100. Extending beyond these band portions tapered portions 106 and 108 are provided. The tapered portion 106 terminates at the end of the shaft. Extending longitudinally relative to the tapered portion 108 there is a driving lug 110, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a tang, which, as will be explained in connection with FIGURE 2, is releasably engaged by the driven chuck 38. In view of the above it can now be appreciated that the core shaft of this invention can be easily removed from a core since the largest diameter is that of the central portion 100. Further core shaft supporting bearings, such as hinged cap, sleeve bearings, or separate ball bearing cartridges are not necessary, thus insertion and removal of the core shaft from the core is quickly and easily accomplished.

Considering first the carriage 42 shown in FIGURE 2 it will be seen that it comprises longitudinally spaced generally rectangular plates 112 and 114 interconnected by a tubular spacer 116. The shaft 46 is slidably fitted in a bearing preload sleeve 118 which abuttingly engages the inner races of bearings 120 and 122 mounted in the plates 112 and 114, respectively. Each of the plates rotatably support upper rollers 124 on suitable stub shafts 126. As shown in FIGURE 3 these plates also carry lower rollers 128 mounted on short stub shafts 126 disposed at an angle with respect to the upper rollers 124. All of these rollers rollingly engage guides 130 suitably secured to the side plate 34 of the roll stand. By providin the rollers 124 and 128 in rolling engagement with the guides 130 the carriage 42 may be easily moved along the guides laterally inwardly or outwardly.

Means are provided for moving the carriage 42 along the guides 130. These means preferably take the form of hydraulic cylinders or linear actuators 132 each of which is provided with a clevis connection 134 at the head end thereof pivotally connected by a pin 136 to a bracket 138 which is bolted to the plate 56. The rod end of these actuators are pinned to the plate 112 by pins 140. The plate 114 is provided with inwardly extending cutout portions 142 providing clearance for the actuators 132 when the carriage is retracted to the right as viewed in FIG- URE 2. Accordingly, when the actuators 132 are retracted the carriage 42 moves to the right. Control mechanisms which are in themselves conventional, are provided for extending and retracting the actuators 132.

The end ofthe shaft 46 extending beyond the plate 112 has an enlarged portion formed with a tapered socket 144 which is suitably shaped to provide a nonlocking taper for the tapered portion 108 of the core shaft. In addition there is provided a suitably formed recess 146 for receiving the driving connection or tang of the core shaft. In this way torque which is imparted to the shaft 46 by the drive train rotate the core shaft C.

The remaining carriage 44 and its associated chuck 40 is shown in FIGURE 4. The constructional details of the carriage are identical to those explained above in regard to FIGURE 2. Thus similar structure is identified by the same numeral followed by the letter a. Since the end of the core shaft which is received in a chuck 40 does not include a tang portion the chuck is merely provided with a tapered socket 148 for receiving the tapered portion 106. It is, however, to be appreciated that the core shaft may be provided with a tang on both ends thereof although only one tang will be effective to transmit torque to the shaft. This has the advantage of enabling loading of the core shaft onto the rewinding apparatus without being concerned about the location of the tang 110.

Control means are provided for simultaneously moving the carriages 42 and 44 toward and away from each other. Such means are shown schematically in FIGURE 6 and it will be seen to comprise an electro-hydraulic system 150 including a four-way valve 152 which is connected to receive pressure fluid from a pump 154. Pressure fluid is communicated to the rod end of the actuators 132 and 132a by a conduit 156 in which is connected a conventional flow control valve 158. Fluid pressure is communicated to the head ends of the actuators 132 and 132a by a conduit 160 which also includes a flow control valve 158. When the head ends of the actuators 132 and 132a are connected to the discharge of the pump 154 the chuck mechanisms 38 and 40 are moved inwardly toward each other in contact with the tapered portions 106 and 108 of the core shaft. Since the axial load which is needed for holding the core shaft firmly engaged with the chucks 38 and 40 is relatively low in magnitude, a suitable pressure reducing valve 162 is located in the line 160. This, of course, limits the pressure and consequently the force which is applied to the core shaft. In addition, since the core shaft is long and of relatively small cross sectional area the force must be limited to prevent bending due to column action.

The four-way valve 152 has its spool connected to solenoids 164 which can be selectively energized to shift the spool in a manner which extends or retracts the actuators 132 and 132a. For example, when it is desired to extend the actuators the spool is shifted to the right connecting the pump discharge with the line 160 which communicates the pressure fluid through to the head ends of the actuators. At the same time the rod end of the actuators is communicated by the line 156 to the reservoir T. Suitable means of a conventional nature, which are not part of this invention, are provided for selectively energizing and de-energizing the solenoids 164.

In accordance with this invention the correlation of the undercut portions 94 and 96 of the core shafts with the tracks 90 is such that upon release or retraction of the chucks 38 and 40 the possibility of either end of the core shaft attempting to follow the line of retraction of either one of the chucks is reliably and positively prevented. When the core shaft is engaged by the chucks 38 and 40 the periphery of the undercut portions 94 and 96 are spaced from the surface 92 and the arcuate surface 98 by approximately to 4 of an inch. With this small amount of clearance the shoulders of the undercut portions 94 and 96 are located to engage the Side surfaces of the track 90 in the event axial displacement of the core shaft occurs when the chucks 38 and 40 are retracted to disengage the tapered portions 106 and 108 of the core shaft. In this way the core shaft is held against longitudinal movement thus insuring that the undercut portions 94 and 96 are retained in position to rollingly engage the surfaces 92 of the tracks 90.

Another and equally important result is achieved by the correlation of the core shaft and the rails 90. When the core shaft is located against or closely adjacent the arcuate portions 98 the longitudinal axis of the core shaft is slightly displaced from the position it assumes when it is firmly engaged by the chucks 38 and 40. The degree of displacement is such that the smallest diameter of the tapered portions 106 and 108 are within a projected area .of the sockets 144 and 148. Accordingly, all that is required in loading a core shaft is to locate it at the radius 98 whereupon movement of the carriages 42 and 44 inwardly causes the tapered ends of the core shaft to be firmly engaged by the chucks 38 and 40. When so engaged the surface of the undercut portions 94 and 96 and the surfaces 92 are brought out of contact to the extent that the clearance of to A of an inch is again established.

Thus according to the above description it can be appreciated that this invention provides a core shaft and mounting therefor which keeps mechanical friction, and obviously the tension of the web, to an absolute minimum by including antifriction bearings which do not interfere with loading and unloading of cores. Furthermore, providing a core shaft whose section of largest diameter is at its central core-engaging portion facilities insertion and removal of the core shaft. Additionally the novel relationship of the undercut portions of the core shaft and support tracks 90 prevents dislocation of the core shaft when the chucks are retracted.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a core shaft in a web rewinding or unwinding machine comprising a frame structure, axially aligned longtudinally spaced rotatable core shaft supporting means on said frame for engaging the ends of the core shaft, means mounting said core shaft supporting means for movement toward and away from each other, means for moving said core shaft supporting means in the mentioned direction to engage the ends of the core shaft when said core shaft supporting means are moved toward each other and to disengage the core shaft when they are moved away from each other, means for positioning the core shaft between said core shaft supporting means so that it is engagable by said core shaft supporting means, said core shaft positioning means comprises tracks rollingly engageable with peripheral portions of the core, means on said tracks for locating said core shaft substantially in alignment with said core shaft supporting means, and means on said core shaft engageable with said tracks for limiting axial movement of said core shaft when said core shaft supporting means are moved away from each other.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said core shaft includes axially spaced undercut portions each of which define laterally spaced shoulders, each of said undercut portions being slightly greater in axial length than the width of said tracks so that said shoulders are adjacent the side surfaces of said tracks, said shoulders being effective to engage side surfaces of said tracks when said core support means are moved away from each other.

3. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a core shaft in a web rewinding or unwinding machine comprising a frame structure, axially aligned longitudinally spaced rotatable core shaft supporting means on said frame for engaging the ends of the core shaft, means mounting said core shaft supporting means for movement toward and away from each other, means for moving said core shaft supporting means in the mentioned directions to engage the ends of the core shaft when said core shaft supporting means are moved toward each other and to disengage the core shaft when they are moved away from each other, and means for positioning the core shaft between said core shaft supporting means so that it is engageable by said core shaft supporting means, said core shaft positioning means comprises tracks rollingly engageable with undercut peripheral portions of said core shaft, said undercut peripheral portions and said tracks being effective to limit axial movement of said core shaft when said core shaft supporting means are moved away from each other, and means on said tracks for locating said core shafts substantially in alignment with said core shaft supporting means.

4. In a web handling apparatus a frame having means for guiding a stretchable web in a desired path; a core shaft for carrying a suitable core; means rotatably mounted on said frame for releasably engaging the ends of said core shaft, said last mentioned means being arranged to impart driving torque to said core shaft; selectively operable means for moving said releasably means into or out of contact with the ends of core shaft, and laterally spaced support rails mounted on said frame and extending between a core winding a core discharge station, said core shaft having a central core engaging portion and undercut portions on either side of the central portion for rollingly engaging said rails thereby facilitating movement of the core shaft between such stations and for preventing axial movement of said core shaft when said core engaging means are released, said undercut portions and said support rails being effective to limit axial movement of said core shaft when said core shaft engaging means are moved out of contact with the ends of said core shaft.

5. In a web winding or unwinding apparatus including means for engaging the ends of a core shaft for rotation thereof while forming a web roll and including a winding station and a discharge station, the improvement comprising laterally spaced tracks extending from said winding station to said discharge station, said core shaft having undercut portions rollingly engageable with said tracks to facilitate movement of the web roll from said winding station into said discharge station, said tracks having aligned extensions mounted on an unloading mechanism Which is operable to remove a web roll from the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said unloading mechanism comprising laterally spaced arm members carrying cradles defining extensions of said tracks for supporting the web roll when it is located at the discharge station, and means for actuating said unloading mechanism to remove the web roll from the apparatus while the web roll is supported on said cradles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,365,141 1/1968 Soloduk 242-56 2,366,999 1/1945 Campbell 242-566 2,524,106 10/1950 Hanson 242-58.6 2,553,052 5/1951 Kwitek 242-566 X 2,668,023 2/1954 Whitson et a1 242-56 2,703,682 3/1955 Jacobs 242-64 X 2,759,679 8/1956 Torregrossa et al. 242-684 2,800,288 7/1957 Bandy 242-786 2,989,262 6/1961 Hornbostel 242-56 3,062,465 11/1962 Hunter 242-56 3,207,452 9/1965 Haskin et a1 242-681 X 3,298,624 1/ 1967 Schott 242-67.1 X

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

